July 16, 1862: Gen. McClellan gives 'stirring address' to soldiers

In the summer of 1862, the Union and Confederate Armies fought six battles in seven days near Richmond, Va., the Confederate capitol.

The Southern troops, led by Gen. Robert E. Lee, were able to fend off attacks from the Federal troops, led by Gen. George B. McClellan.

Three days after those battles ended, on July 4, 1862, McClellan gave a "stirring address" to his troops, according to a report in the July 16 edition of The Allentown Democrat.

The newspaper published that speech, including the following excerpt:

"On this, our nation's birthday, we declare to our foes, who are rebels against the best interests of mankind, that this army shall enter the capitol of the so-called confederates, that our national constitution shall prevail, and that the Union … 'Must and Shall be Preserved.'"

The general also told his troops: "Under every disadvantage of number, and necessarily of position also, you have in every conflict beaten back your foe with enormous slaughter. Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of history."

Most historians would disagree with McClellan's assessment of his army's performance during the so-called Peninsula Campaign, during which he sought to capture Richmond but failed and eventually had to withdraw to Washington, D.C.

Much of the July 16 edition of the Democrat debates who really is responsible for the failure of the march on Richmond, and the newspaper — a partisan supporter of the Democratic Party, which backed McClellan — does not fault the general.

"Who really is to blame for the late retrograde movement of the 'Army of Potomac?'" the Democrat asks, and then points fingers at those in Washington, saying they failed to give the general the supplies and troops he needed and "had not the War Department interfered with his plans, he would have been in Richmond long since."

In late 1862 after the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln would relieve McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac. In 1864, McClellan was nominated by the Democratic Party to run for president against Lincoln.

The Allentown Democrat, of course, supported McClellan's candidacy. Though McClellan won the popular vote in Lehigh and Northampton counties, he lost the state and the national election to Lincoln.

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